Grass is Venus Williams's favorite surface. Even if she's been fading everywhere else for some time—she hasn't been to a final of a non-Wimbledon Grand Slam in nine years—she would reliably muster up a respectable (and sometimes dominant!) performance in England.

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Not anymore. For the first time since her rookie year in 1997, Williams has been bounced from the first round at Wimbledon. The five-time Wimbledon champ lost to Elena Vesnina, an unknown Russian ranked 79th in the world.

Williams started the match with five straight faults. She had only two break-point chances. She was absolutely dominated.

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Williams is 32. She's sick. She hasn't done better than the fourth round of a Grand Slam in two years. And now, apparently, she's lost her only out pitch.